Diabetes can affect anyone, but males are more likely to have certain symptoms than women. Men with diabetes may exhibit erectile dysfunction, decreased muscle mass, and other symptoms.
According to estimates from the American Diabetes Association, between 13.8 and 17 percent of males in the US have diabetes.
Loss of muscular mass, genital thrush, and erectile dysfunction are possible outcomes of the illness. The disparities in diabetes symptoms between men and women are examined in this article.
Men’s symptoms of diabetes
Diabetes has many of the same impacts on both sexes. Nerves and blood arteries are harmed by the illness.
Nonetheless, the following are the primary distinctions when diabetes strikes men:
Erectile dysfunction: Men with diabetes may have trouble getting or keeping an erection up to 75% of the time. Damage to these systems can affect how the penis functions. Nerves and blood vessels are essential to the erection process.
Men may develop recurrent episodes of genital thrush, a fungal yeast infection. Blood sugar excess is excreted in the urine. But since yeast feeds on sugar, it is more likely to grow on a diabetic man’s penis.
Genital thrush symptoms include:
- redness, swelling, and itchiness surrounding the penis’s head
- a disagreeable smell
- a bumpy, whitish appearance to the penis’s skin
- stiffness and soreness during intercourse
Diminished muscle mass: The body may start burning down fat and muscle for energy if blood sugar levels are persistently elevated.
Men with type 1 diabetes are more likely to have this, which lowers strength and weakens muscles.
Men and their risk of diabetes
An investigation from 2016 According to a reliable source in BMJ Open, males are more likely than women to develop diabetes after gaining less weight overall.
480,813 people were examined in the study. When the men were diagnosed with diabetes, the authors discovered that there was less variation in the body sizes of the men than the women.
The preferred indication of health hazards, waist circumference, was also measured in the 2016 study.
The outcomes revealed:
- males with type 2 diabetes had a waist circumference that was 9 cm greater than that of males without the illness. Three more points were added to the BMI.
- Once the women’s average waist circumference increased by 14 centimeters, or their BMI increased by 5, they would be diagnosed with type 2 diabetes.
Men may get diabetes “more easily” and at a more predictable stage of weight increase than women, according to one interpretation of the findings.
Similar findings were found in a 2011 study that was written up in the journal Diabetologia. Compared to women, the men in this group who had diabetes were less obese when they were diagnosed.
Men’s lower fat threshold was particularly apparent when they were younger. The body sizes of older men and women diagnosed with diabetes were more comparable.
Obesity is defined as a BMI of 30 or higher. Men had an average BMI of slightly under 32 at the time of their type 2 diabetes diagnosis, according to a 2011 study. For women, the average was close to 34.
This indicates that when diabetes strikes, women usually have a higher BMI than do males.
Before getting diabetes, a woman’s waist circumference could be five times greater than a man’s.
Read Also: Saunas and How They Affect Diabetes
general indicators of diabetes
In addition to the symptoms specific to males, diabetes can cause general symptoms in people of all ages.
Among them are:
- heightened hunger and thirst
- peeing more frequently and producing more urine
- increased nocturnal urination
- heightened appetite
- fatigue
- hazy vision
- wounds or sores in type 2 diabetes that do not heal
- disproportionate weight loss prior to diagnosis in type 1 diabetes
If you experience any of these symptoms, see a physician.
Long-term high blood sugar levels can lead to issues over time.
These have the potential to harm several systems, such as:
- problems with the eyes, like diabetic retinopathy
- foot issues
- heart attack and stroke
- kidney problems, or nephropathy
- injury to the nerves, or neuropathy
- specific cancers
- diabetic ketoacidosis, an accumulation of molecules known as ketones that can be lethal in the absence of prompt medical attention
Diabetes complications can be quite hazardous and are generally treated when a person first learns they have the illness.
Regular checkups are recommended for men who are at risk of diabetes in order to detect and treat the problem as soon as feasible.
Conclusion
Men are less likely than women to gain weight and accumulate fat, which increases their risk of diabetes. A variety of distinct symptoms, including recurring genital thrush and erectile dysfunction, may be experienced by them.
Numerous hazardous consequences can result from diabetes. A blood test ought to be administered to every overweight man over 45.
Question and Answer
As a male, I have prediabetes. What can I cut out of my diet to lower my chance of developing type 2 diabetes?
Consume a diet rich in veggies, including fruits, whole grains, nuts, and green leafy vegetables. Increase your intake of high-fiber foods. Steer clear of sugar-rich items like sodas, chips, cookies, cake, and pies. Steer clear of fast food and processed meals.
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